REPORT TITLE:
Herbicide use; public parks


DESCRIPTION:
Requires all state agencies to use nonchemical methods to control
vegetation growth in public parks.  Requires the department of
land and natural resources to:  (1) Encourage and assist the
counties to join and comply with the scheduled ban of herbicide
use in public parks; (2) Develop and implement a plan for the
phased reduction of herbicide use in the maintenance of public
parks; and (3) Submit a report to the legislature prior to the
2000 regular session on the progress of the plan.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.472        
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO HERBICIDE USE. 


BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The maintenance of Hawaii's public parks
 
 2 presently involves the use of herbicides.  There is growing
 
 3 evidence that the use of herbicides may be harmful to human
 
 4 health and growing concern about their contribution to nonpoint
 
 5 source pollution of streams, coastal and ground water, and soil
 
 6 erosion.
 
 7      The legislature finds that using nonchemical methods to
 
 8 control vegetation growth is a sound means of addressing the
 
 9 negative effects of chemicals on human health and the
 
10 environment.  The legislature further finds that five county
 
11 beach parks in Hilo have been maintained without the use of
 
12 herbicides since 1991, with no additional funding appropriated to
 
13 accomplish this.
 
14      The purpose of this Act is to reduce the use of herbicides
 
15 and other chemicals in public parks by requiring:
 
16      (1)  All state and county agencies responsible for the
 
17           maintenance of public parks to rely on nonchemical
 
18           methods to control vegetation growth; and
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (2)  The department of land and natural resources to assist
 
 2           the counties in joining and complying with the
 
 3           scheduled ban of herbicide use in public parks, develop
 
 4           and implement a plan for the phased reduction of
 
 5           herbicide use in the maintenance of public parks, and
 
 6           submit a report of the plan to the legislature prior to
 
 7           the 2000 regular session.
 
 8      SECTION 2.  Chapter 184, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended
 
 9 by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to
 
10 read as follows:
 
11      "§184-     Herbicide use; public parks maintenance.
 
12 (a)  All state governmental agencies responsible for the
 
13 maintenance of public parks shall rely on nonchemical methods to
 
14 control vegetation growth.
 
15      (b)  "Nonchemical methods" means:
 
16      (1)  Using mechanical means such as mowing, side cutting,
 
17           weed whacking, torch burning, or hot water (steam)
 
18           applications;
 
19      (2)  Planting weed-resistant, low-growing ground cover, or
 
20           mulching hard-to-treat areas; and
 
21      (3)  Utilizing community groups, "adopt a park", and other
 
22           work resources for extra hands or special projects."
 

 
 
 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      SECTION 3.  The department of land and natural resources
 
 2 shall:
 
 3      (1)  Encourage and assist the counties to join and comply
 
 4           with the scheduled ban of herbicide use in public
 
 5           parks;
 
 6      (2)  Develop and implement a plan for the phased reduction
 
 7           of herbicide use in the maintenance of public parks;
 
 8           and
 
 9      (3)  Submit a report on the nature and progress of the plan
 
10           to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to
 
11           the convening of the regular session of 2000.
 
12      SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.
 
13      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
14 
 
15                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________